As the new year gets underway, the 60,800-tonne heavy-lift multipurpose ship OCTOPUS 62, developed by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) under China State Shipbuilding Corporation for CSBC Corporation, is seeing strong demand in its target market. An initial building slot was reserved at Sanfu Shipyard before year-end, and CSBC Corporation, together with Haitong Development, has since signed further construction deals with Taizhou Port Shipbuilding for nine additional units. In total, contracts have now been concluded for 15 ships of this upgraded design, underlining its appeal in a specialised heavy-lift segment and strengthening SDARI’s position in high-end project vessel design.
The OCTOPUS 62 concept delivers a high degree of multi-role capability. Large lifting capacity allows the vessel to handle wind power modules and major engineering items, while the cargo arrangements are also suitable for bulk commodities and containers. An open-top operating mode enables the transportation of very large, heavy or over-length cargoes that are not easily accommodated within conventional holds, helping to address transport challenges for such project loads.
A distinctive feature of the series is the bridge and accommodation block located at the bow. This configuration moves away from traditional layouts and gives crews a wide field of vision over the fairway and working deck, including cargo handling operations ahead of the ship. The improved visibility is designed to support safe navigation in confined or complex waters and during frequent berthing. At the same time, the extended, largely flush main deck with reinforced structure offers a stable working area for heavy and special cargo movements.
Environmental performance is a core element of the design. The vessel combines a fuel-efficient main engine with optimised hull lines and a high-pressure SCR installation, enabling compliance with Tier III limits on nitrogen oxide emissions as well as meeting EEDI Phase III energy efficiency thresholds. In this way, the ship is aligned with the latest international regulatory requirements on air emissions and energy efficiency at sea.
For Shanghai Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SSI), the development of this ship type represents an important step in adjusting its product portfolio to both greener operations and more varied shipping needs. The recent run of contracts, bringing the committed series to 15 units, reflects strong recognition of the vessel’s performance from partners including CSEP and Haitong Development, and also demonstrates broader market confidence in the ongoing innovation of Shanghai Ship Design & Research Institute (SSDI). Looking ahead, SSDI plans to continue focusing on green, smart ship concepts, leveraging technological progress to drive vessel upgrades and to provide competitive design solutions from China to the global shipping industry.
